Exploring Confrontation: Sri Lanka: Politics, Culture and History (Studies in Anthropology and History)

Sri Lanka has been the meeting point of many ideologies and ways of being. This has spelt heterogeneity, syncretism and conflict. In drawing upon the practices of empirical research promoted by Western intellectual traditions, the author demonstrates the strengths of these practices through his contextualised engagement with the pogroms of 1915 and 1983, as well as other incidents, as at the same time he delineates some of the limits of empiricist rationality. This book is replete with rich ethnographic detail and serves as an exercise in historical anthropology which illuminates Sri Lanka's political culture. It not only opens out the contrast between Western and Indian world views, but also explores the human condition by bringing out the immediacy surrounding acts of victimisation and human beings in conflict. Sri Lanka Has Been A Meeting Point For Many Ideologies And Ways Of Being. This Has Resulted In Heterogeneity, Syncretism And Conflict. In Drawing Upon The Practices Of Empirical Research Promoted By Western Intellectual Traditions, Michael Roberts Demonstrates The Strengths Of These Practices Through His Contextualised Engagement With The Pogroms Of 1915 And 1983, As Well As Other Incidents. At The Same Time He Delineates Some Of The Limits Of Empiricist Rationality. This Book Is Replete With Rich Ethnographic Detail And Serves As An Exercise In Historical Anthropology Which Illuminates Sri Lanka's Political Culture. It Not Only Opens Out The Contrast Between Western And Indian World Views, But Also Explores The Human Condition By Highlighting The Immediacy Human Beings In Conflict. 1. A Pictorial Prelude: The Religious Circumstances Of Political Action -- 2. Authors And Their Situations -- 3. The Asokan Persona As A Cultural Disposition -- 4. Caste Feudalism? A Critique Through The Asokan Persona And European Contrasts -- 5. The Asokan Persona And Its Reproduction In Modern Times -- 6. Four Twentieth Century Texts And The Asokan Persona -- 7. The Imperialism Of Silence Under The British Raj: Arresting The Drum -- 8. Mentalities: Ideologues, Assailants, Historians And The Pogrom Against The Moors In 1915 -- 9. 'i Shall Have You Slippered': The General And The Particular In An Historical Conjuncture -- 10. Ethnic Conflict In Sri Lanka And Sinhala Perspectives: Barriers To Accommodation -- 11. Ethnicity In Riposte At A Cricket Match: The Past For The Present -- 12. The 1956 Generations: After And Before -- 13. The Agony And The Ecstasy Of A Pogrom: Southern Lanka, July 1983 -- 14. A Biographical Epilogue. Michael Roberts. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 339-361) And Indexes. This volume uses ethnographic detail to serve as an exercise in historical anthropology which illustrates Sri Lanka's political culture. It aims to contrast the Western and Indian world views, and explore the human condition by examining acts of victimization and human beings in conflict.